Method and system for assembly process

A method relating to an assembly process of a machine, the machine assembled over a plurality of process days, the method comprising:

• displaying on a user interface an image of a first portion of the machine, the machine including a plurality of attachments, each attachment categorized as core or optional, each attachment categorized as optional further categorized as either structurally significant or bolt-on, each attachment including a plurality of components, each component categorized the same as the attachment which the component is a part of, the first portion including at least a portion of a first attachment, wherein components categorized as core are visually differentiated on the user interface from components categorized as optional;
• modifying a categorization of the first attachment;
• delaying the need date of the first attachment when the categorization of the first attachment is modified from structurally significant to bolt-on;
• changing a first process day on which the first attachment is deducted from inventory to a second process day based on the modifying;
• and
• adjusting, by a controller, a need date for the plurality of components of the first attachment based on the changing;
• and
• displaying a comparison of a quantity of core components, a quantity of structurally significant components and a quantity of bolt-on components deducted from inventory on the first process day.

A system for delaying differentiation in an assembly process of one or more machines in a group of related machines, each machine assembled over a plurality of process days according to an assembly plan, the system comprising:

• a user interface;
• and
• a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller configured to:
• display on the user interface for one or more of the machines a comparison of a quantity of core components, a quantity of structurally significant components and a quantity of bolt-on components, each machine including a plurality of attachments, each attachment categorized as core, structurally significant or bolt-on, each attachment including a plurality of components, each component categorized the same as the attachment which the component is a part of;
• display on the user interface for at least one process day the quantity of core components and the quantity of structurally significant components and the quantity of bolt-on components deducted from inventory for at least one machine;
• display on the user interface a first portion of at least one machine on the user interface, wherein components categorized as core, structurally significant or bolt-on are visually differentiated from each other;
• modify a categorization of a first attachment;
• delay the need date of the first attachment when the categorization of the first attachment is modified from structurally significant to bolt-on;
• change a first process day on which the first attachment is deducted from inventory to a second process day when the categorization of the first attachment is changed;
• and
• adjust a need date for the first attachment based on the change from the first process day to the second process day.